Team: Dr. Ana Maria Peredo, University of Victoria and John Restakis, British Columbia Co-operative Association

Overview: This project aims to establish conditions for community-university partnership through engaging all partners in a thorough mapping of the co-operative movement in British Columbia to identify research gaps where the group can collaboratively address these gaps to ensure value for community partners

Expected outcomes: After a series of community forums, a discussion paper has been created that helps the group conceptualize the diversity of co-operatives, communities, and relationships that comprise the co-operative difference

Report

W2- Survival Rates of Co-operatives in British Columbia

Team: John Restakis and Carol Murray of the BC Co-operative Association and Joanna Buczkowska, University of Victoria Sauder School of Business Research

Overview: This project will build on the knowledge gained through the initial phase of the project funding under the Social Economy CURA, exploring further depth into the conditions that support longevity and durability of co-operatives

Expected outcomes:
• This project will provide an index of factors that contribute to the longevity of co-operatives that will allow for comparative studies between co-operatives and other forms of enterprise
• This index of factors will also be used to inform future co-operative development

W3- Co-operative Inquiry: Co-operatives and Marginalized Community in British Columbia

Team: Dr. Ana Maria Peredo and Dr. Jo-Anne Lee, University of Victoria

Overview:
• This project will examine the ways co-operatives are embedded in marginalized communities (focus on women of colour), how co-operatives are understood by these communities, what impacts co-operatives have on marginalized communities
• The project will explore concepts of oppression, intersectionality, historical context, and the ways in which marginalized communities interact with co-operatives and the community-based economy

Expected outcomes:
• This project will map the community-based economies in British Columbia in relation to marginalized communities, while providing an assessment of co-operatives' relationship, value and limitations within these communities

W4- Co-operatives in British Columbia: Infrastructure Support

Team: Dr. James Rowe and Dr. Ana Maria Peredo of the University of Victoria and John Restakis of the British Columbia Co-operative Association

Overview:
• Identify the factors that affect the success and viability of newly incorporated co-ops in BC
• Provide an understanding of the policies, initiatives, and legislation that support and encourage (or inhibit and discourage) the development of co-operatives in British Columbia

Expected outcomes:
• Provide ‘Best practices' and an understanding of networks and infrastructures that have worked elsewhere concerning infrastructure support and co-operative development
• Provide a thorough collections of steps that co-ops can take, individually and collectively, to build support for the co-operative sector at a variety of scales